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How To Decorate For A Boston Tea Party

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Celebrate independence by throwing a Boston Tea Party complete with old-fashioned Boston Tea Party recipes such Boston Harbor Chowder, Boston Cream Pie and Red and White and Blue Independence Trifle.

The original Boston Tea Party, which actually took place on a crisp December evening was a protest against taxes. In fact the slogan “Tea, Not Taxes!” might make a nice moniker or slogan for your Boston Tea Party celebration. At the original Boston tea party ships were invaded and 340 chests of tea were pitched overboard in protest of high taxes on the delicious beverage. This incident of course led to the entire American Revolution.

At your party, which is best held around tax time or in December during the end of the year, a nice touch would be to have a complimentary. document shredder on hand, should anyone have any documents that pertain to the government that they would like to get rid of for good. This would be symbolic of the hauling of the “old regime” overboard to make way for the new.

As the Boston Tea Party was an occasion that celebrated freedom and the rights of hard working, ordinary people, red, white and blue is a perfectly acceptable color scheme for this party. You can also encourage individuals to dress casually but also include these colors in their dress. A nice touch would be to encourage your guests to dress casually but then hand them a scarf decorated like the U.S. flag as a party favor to wear however they want at that party.

It is also suggested that the music be American, and very home grown. Artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Janis Joplin would be perfect for a modern day Boston tea party.

On your menu will be the three kinds of teas that were thrown overboard during the original Boston Tea party.

English Breakfast Tea – This is a heavily caffeinated blend made with a smokey fine grade Keemun.

Earl Grey Tea – This is the famous Assam tea that is scented with delicate and tangy traces of the fruit bergamot.

Darjeeling Tea – This lack tea from the Darjeeling region of India. Darjeeling tea is treasured for the rich golden liquor and unique muscatel flavor.

Of course you should include your entire menu on your party invitation —

English Breakfast
Earl Grey Tea
Darjeeling Tea
Boston Tea Party Popcorn
New England Revolution Crudite Tray (simply a tray of cut vegetables such as radish roses and cucumber fans on a revolving Lazy Susan)
Ham and Cheese Scones
Shrimp Cocktail
Broiled Lobster Tails
New England Crab Melts
Boston Harbor Chowder
Boston Baked Tea in A Kettle
Boston Cream Pie
Independence Day Trifle

Notice how the menu includes selections that are both antique and modern and there is some choices on the menu that dislike fish. Ham and cheese would be a traditional mainstay of Boston tea parties.

How to Decorate for a Fiji Inspired Tea Party

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Pamper your girlfriends with a Fiji Vacation inspired Tea Party complete with exotic fruit teas, pomegranate and bird of paradise centerpieces, spicy curry wraps, banana scones and a relaxing foot massage.

A Fiji Vacation Tea Party should be evocative of soft breezes, large nodding flowers and the sweet formal politeness of tea service at an ocean side hotel. Remember that Fiji was a British colony for years, so it is time to get out your most formal china, crispest white tablecloths and finely crafted silver. You will be contrasting the prim and proper with exotic curries, grass mats and sheer netting thrown over a cabana.

This type of tea party is best thrown out doors in the middle of the summer when the heat is reminiscent of the sensual weather of the South Pacific. A canopy erected in the back yard and draped with filmy mosquito netting and bright batik fabrics (in crimson, orange and dark blue) serves nicely as a make shift cabana. Throw some silk pillows on some grass mats in a corner of the cabana to encourage your guests to take of their shoes and relax.

To make them feel special, hire a manicurist to do their nails or toe nails or even better yet hire one of your kids to give each guest a foot massage. Imagine their delight when they open an invitation that includes a foot massage on the menu. The invitation could read “Free Your Mind and Soul At My Fiji Vacation Tea Party.” Or “You Are Invited to Vacation For An Afternoon At My Fiji Tea Party.” Also ask all of your guests to wear white to get into the Colonial spirit of the party.

Of course no Menu for a Fiji Tea Party would be complete without a generous selection of finger foods as the indigenous populations of Fiji eat with their hands. This menu for your Fiji Vacation Tea Party is based on authentic Fiji dishes and colonial twists on sweet on such Fiji food staples as potatoes, coconut, pineapple cassava, tapioca, shrimp and goat.

Burning coconut or pineapple incense would bring a nice ambience to the atmosphere as would music featuring Hawaiian guitars or soothing New Age music that features ocean waves on the sound track. Another nice touch would be to present each guest with an orchid or other exotic flower to tuck behind their ear as a party favor. A parting gift could be a little bottle of coconut or crème de cacao lotion from the Body Shop or sticks of coconut incense. After the sun goes down, freestanding bamboo lamps to add to the ambience.